Contest to mark Shakespeare's death anniversary

BHUBANESWAR:

Utkal University

is set to organize a writing contest, Nothing like the Sun: Shakespeare@400, for the postgraduate students of English department to mark the 400th death anniversary of the playwright.

The two students, who emerges as the toppers, will be sent on a trip to

Stratford-upon-Avon

in UK, the birthplace of Shakespeare. "The objective is to rediscover

Shakespeare

and create curiosity about his writings among students," said head of the English department,

Himanshu Mohapatra

.

The competition will consiste of two rounds. In the first one, participants will have to solve 50 short questions based on four great tragedies of the Bard of Avon - Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth. In the second round, students will have to write one essay within 2000 words on his four great plays. The essays will be judged on the basis of originality of thought, engagement with the Shakespearean experience and language, effective use of resources, etc.

The preliminary round will begin on September 1. Its results will be out on September 20. The second round will be held on October 28.